Meet the New England Aquarium's viral seal and his rubber duckie pal

"It's currently our second-best performing post on Instagram, with nearly 500,000 views and almost 100,000 engagements, and it's still growing. I love videos like this where multiple people and departments collaborate to make something special, and I'm so ecstatic Reggae is getting so much love."

"While the video may look like a simple - and adorable - moment of play, trainer Mollie Collins said it also highlights the intelligence and curiosity of harbor seals. Harbor seals are naturally curious, so they love to interact with new things in their exhibit. That really enriches their lives, because it has that new, novel sensation."

"One activity trainers use is called "Find It," Collins said. During the exercise, trainers introduce objects into the exhibit and ask the seals to locate a matching item elsewhere in the exhibit."

Reggae, a harbor seal at the New England Aquarium, gained viral attention through a video showing him gently petting, hugging, and swimming with a yellow rubber duck while working with trainers. The video became the aquarium's second-best performing Instagram post with nearly 500,000 views and almost 100,000 engagements. The concept emerged from collaboration between the aquarium's social media and animal care teams during monthly brainstorming sessions. Trainer Mollie Collins emphasized that the playful interaction highlights harbor seals' natural intelligence and curiosity. The aquarium regularly engages its five Atlantic harbor seals in cognitive enrichment activities, including exercises like "Find It," where trainers introduce objects and ask seals to locate matching items, providing novel sensations that enrich their lives.

Read at Boston.com